to: provide for the regulation of renewable fuel content in fuel supplied for use in motor vehicles; provide that the ethanol volume percentage be mandated at a minimum of 5 per cent from 1 July 2017 and a minimum of 10 per cent from 1 July 2020; establish an office of Renewable Fuel Program Administrator and provide for the appointment and functions of the administrator; and include record keeping and reporting requirements.

The bill: establishes the Office of Animal Welfare as an independent statutory authority with responsibility for advising on the protection of animal welfare in Commonwealth regulated activities; provides for the functions, appointment, and terms and conditions of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO); provides for staff and consultants; establishes the Office of Animal Welfare Advisory Committee to advise the CEO; and provides for reporting requirements.

Part of a package of three bills in relation to rural research and development, the bill amends the

Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999

to: remove product specific maximum rates for research and development and marketing charge rates; standardise and clarify the industry bodies to be consulted before the minister sets new or changed rates; and provide that the maximum charge rate to be imposed is the rate requested by the charge payers.

Part of a package of three bills in relation to rural research and development, the bill amends the:

Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999

to: remove product specific maximum levy rates for research and development and marketing levies; standardise and clarify the industry bodies to be consulted before the minister sets new or changed levies; provide that the maximum levy rate to be imposed is the rate requested by the levy payers; set the levy rate on sugar cane to 70 cents per tonne; and require the minister to take into account recommendations from the sugar industry services body on the rate of the levy on sugar cane in the absence of an industry organisation; and proposed

Sugar Research and Development Services (Consequential Amendments—Excise) Act 2013

Part of a package of three bills in relation to rural research and development, the bill amends: the

Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989

to: require research and development corporations (RDCs) to enter into a funding agreement with the Commonwealth before the end of the 2013-14 financial year; enable individual fisheries industry levies to be collected and matched subject to a relevant industry cap; amend the process for selecting board members for statutory RDCs; include marketing activities in the role of RDCs; and amend the long and short titles of the Act; the

Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997

,

Horticulture Marketing and Research and Development Services Act 2000

,

Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989

and

Wool Services Privatisation Act 2000

to standardise ministerial delegation rules for industry-owned RDCs; the

Dairy Produce Act 1986

and

Wool Services Privatisation Act 2000

to enable the minister to give written directions to the industry and research bodies in certain circumstances; the

Wool Services Privatisation Act 2000

to: enable the research body to use certain funds for marketing activities; and provide that the timing of the wool levy poll is prescribed in regulations; six Acts to enable the Commonwealth to match voluntary contributions made to RDCs by businesses for research and development; and nine Acts to make technical amendments.

to: extend the misuse of market power to restrictive trade practices which result in the lessening of competition in the supply chain; and enable the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to request a supply chain impact statement from a corporation believed to be involved in restrictive trade practices and for the publication of the statement.

The bill: provides for a limit on the market share for supermarket businesses, including enforced progressive divesture to 20 per cent over a six-year period where necessary; establishes and provides powers to the Commissioner of Food Retailing; and requires the commissioner to administer the limits on market share and promote competition and fairness principles.

to: establish the Australian Reconstruction and Development Board as the third Board within the Reserve Bank of Australia; and provide for the functions, membership, meetings and other administrative arrangements of the board, including resolving any policy differences between the three boards.